The International English Language Testing System (IELTS), examines candidates’ proficiency in the English language. It is especially for those who want to study or work in countries with English as their primary language of communication. The IELTS exam has a nine-band scale to identify the levels of the test-takers’ proficiency accurately. The IELTS for Canada categorizes the candidates with a band score of one as non-users and a band score of 9 as experts in English. The exam’s purpose is to measure your proficiency in four basic skills: reading, speaking, listening, and writing.
Two Types of IELTS Exams
There are two sections in IELTS exams: Academic and General Training. Those who wish to apply for professional registration or higher education in foreign countries should take the IELTS Academic test.
On the other hand, people who want to migrate to major English-speaking countries, such as Canada, should opt for the IELTS General Test. If you wish to enroll in secondary education or training programs or gain work experience in a native-English speaking country, you should take the General Test. While the sections comprising listening and speaking tests are the same, the reading and writing sections vary depending on the test.
Tips for IELTS preparation
For the IELTS exam, you need to delve much deeper than the basic preparation. To beat the average, you must undergo effective analyses, devise powerful strategies, and study thoroughly. Here are some useful tips to help you prepare well for the exam:
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Study Vocabulary:
Reading now and again will help you to place words in the proper context. Your vocabulary will get better if you are familiar with more words. While reading, you need to pay more attention to unknown words and try to guess their meanings from the context. After that, you can consult the dictionary.
Reading and listening to English news helps a lot as well. You can take note of phrases and expressions in a variety of academic contexts. However, it is not necessary to learn several highly specialized terms. It will help if you practice speaking and writing in English.
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Improve Your Writing Skills:
You can practice timed writing to improve your speed. Writing answers below the minimum length in the exam is not advisable. Since Task two is longer and requires more time, you need to complete it successfully.
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Focus on Fluency and Pronunciation:
The speaking test consists of three parts: a structured interview, a short talk, and an interview. You will have to answer around two to three brief concerns on easy topics. Therefore, you have to be ready to talk for two minutes in the brief talk section. Consistent practice is essential. For fluency, you can practice talking for a long time. Speak aloud in English for yourself to hear the pronunciation of words. If possible, record and listen to yourself speaking.
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Exercise Your Listening Skills:
You can listen to the news in English and write them down for analysis later. In the exam though, you can hear the recording once. Therefore, you should practice it exactly in the same way.
Eligibility for IELTS Exam for Canada
Any individual can sit for the test irrespective of race, sex, religion, or nationality. The Citizenship Act in Canada has lowered the minimum age requirement for applicants from June 2015. Now, candidates between the ages of 14-64 can take IELTS for Canada.
The conducting bodies have not set any minimum eligibility criteria for the IELTS exam. However, the test-taker should check the organization’s eligibility criteria or educational institution where they are applying.
Also Read : What should I Prioritize: Learning Vocabulary or Collocations for IELTS Preparation?
IELTS Score for Canada
One of the most popular high-stakes tests for the English language globally, IELTS is the test of choice for employers, educational organizations, and professional associations all across Canada. Your visa requirements and the organization where you wish to work or study are the parameters for the IELTS score you require. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are the four skills that test your English proficiency on a scale of 1-9.
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Listening-
Its time duration is 30 minutes. After listening to four recordings, the candidate has to write answers to a series of questions. The minimum score one has to obtain here is 8.
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Speaking-
The duration of the speaking test is 11-14 minutes. It assesses the stylized and coherent use of spoken English. The candidate has to acquire a minimum score of 7.
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Reading-
With a time duration of 60 minutes and 40 questions, this section tests a wide variety of reading skills, such as gist, skimming, reading for the main ideas, recognizing the writer’s purpose, attitude, and opinion understanding logical argument. One should score a minimum of 7 here.
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Writing-
In an hour, the test-taker has to complete two tasks. The candidate has to write a letter requesting information and explaining the given situation in the first one. In Task 2, the candidate needs to write an essay on a given problem, argument, or perspective. The test-taker needs to score at least 7.
Band Requirements
IELTS score for Canada has a validity of two years, depending on the type of job you are looking for. You can check the score on the official Canadian government website. The recent updates state that one needs to score 6.5 in the test and not less than 6.0. However, this is the requirement for a work permit. There is no stipulated IELTS band for Canada for obtaining a study visa.
Therefore, you need to choose the IELTS Academic Test for pursuing a Masters Degree in Science in Canada. However, it is a little difficult for several students to match the score. You need to adhere to the standards which the specific universities set. If you can get a score of 6.5, you will have all the chances of joining any university in Canada for higher studies.
Conclusion
Your success rate depends on your practice and commitment towards your goal. We are always ready to help you with your IELTS preparation. Stay tuned with us to know more about the IELTS examination. We have got everything covered in our blogs to enable you to obtain the desired grade.
Also Read : What are Collocations in IELTS? How Can You Improve Your IELTS Vocabulary?
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